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Former NT president Norval Pohl died last night in his home in Arizona from pancreatic cancer, according to former co-worker and NT alum Dustee Tucker. Pohl was NT's 13th president, serving from Oct. 15, 2000 until August of 2006.
Under Pohl's presidency, the students voted to approve a $75 per semester fee that paid for the construction of the Pohl Recreation Center, which was named after him in his final semester as president. He also established the university's first College of Engineering and was integral to the building of its home, Discovery Park, which was then named Research Park. Also under his presidency, the university built a new 105,000 square-foot Chemistry Building.
After NT, Pohl traveled to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Ariz., which is about two hours from Phoenix, where he served as University Chancellor, according to the Embry-Riddle Web site.
"He made it a point to meet with students on a regular basis," Tucker said. "He wanted to make sure students knew he had an open-door policy."...
Originally posted byJohn Doe
While it is a shame Dr. Pohl died of cancer and may he rest in peace. I have to say there was a "dark" side of Dr. Pohl few know about or have the courage to say. Dr. Pohl was an administrators' administrator and what he did during his presidency reflected his desire to pursue the master plan at the expense of the then current student body. Remember the "budget freeze" back in 2002-2003? While Unt employees couldn't get any raises Dr. Pohl got one from the Board of Regents. Right there proves greed. A man making $20,000 a month doesn't need a raise especially during a state budget crisis. Dr. Pohl hired Chief Deter who implemented the most predatory parking enforcement in existence today. Dr. Pohl and his administrators "pushed" SGA to pass legislation for the moderated student athletics fee in 2002 despite a student referendum to vote it down. Dr. Pohl also used extraodinary measures to silence student opposition to the "master" plan. At best, Dr. Pohl's presidency was mediocre. He did some good things and he did some shady things no one dares to mention. Dr. Pohl was first and foremost and administrator and he didn't care about the student body unless it was in his best interest to do so. Remember the student who heckled Dr. Pohl at one of his "Let's Talk" in March 2003? Dr. Pohl had his administrators put that student on disciplinary probation to silence that student and get him removed from the SGA senate. Dr. Pohl isn't everything you think he is.....he has a dark side...and as a former student I saw it first hand. While I regret he is dead, i am glad he resigned from UNT as President.
Fuad Khan
posted 5/13/09 @ 1:32 PM CST